dity with which the water
operated upon escapes from the narrow blades, the depression at the
stern of the vessel caused by the action of the ordinary propeller is
greatly reduced.

12. The vibration caused by this propeller is so slight as to be
hardly noticeable, thereby effecting a saving in the wear and tear of
the engine and machinery. This may also be a consideration in
promoting the comfort of passengers.

From a practical and working point of view we take Mr. Dickinson's
chief claims to be, in the first place, the yielding of a greater
speed per power employed, or an economy in obtaining an equal speed;
in the second, increased, rapidity in maneuvering and stopping a
vessel; and in the third, a reduction of vibration. In order to put
these claims to a practical and reliable comparative test, Messrs.
Weatherley, Mead & Hussey, of Saint Dunstan's Hill, London, placed at
the inventor's disposal two of their new steamers, the Herongate and
the Belle of Dunkerque. These are in every respect sister boats, and
were built in 1887 by Messrs. Short Brothers, and engined by Mr. John
Dickinson, of Sunderland. The Herongate was fitted about four months
ago with the largest propeller yet made on Mr. B. Dickinson's
principle, the Belle of Dunkerque having an ordinary four-bladed
propeller of the latest improved type. Every precaution was taken to
place the two vessels on the same footing for the purpose of a
comparative test, which was recently carried out. Both vessels
previously to the trial were placed on the gridiron, cleaned and
painted, their boilers opened out and scaled, their steam gauges
independently tested, and both vessels loaded with a similar cargo of
pitch, the only difference being that the Herongate carried 11 tons
more dead weight and had one inch more mean draught than the Belle of
Dunkerque, while the former had been running continuously for nine
months against the latter's two and a half months. On the day of the
trial the vessels were lying in the Lower Hope reach, and it was
decided to run them over the measured mile there with equal pressure
of steam. The order of running having been arranged, the Herongate got
under way first, the Belle of Dunkerque following over the same
course. Steaming down against tide, the Herongate is said to have come
round with remarkable ease and rapidity, and in turning on either
helm, whether with or against tide, to have shown a decided advantage.
Equally manifest, it